Cheatham County approves hires and a 1% raise, rejects larger raises and proposed tax increases

Cheatham County commissioners approved several budget funds, hired two full‑time firefighters for the Pegram Fire Station and adopted a 1% county employee raise during a special session on July 9, 2018, while rejecting multiple attempts to increase raises or the tax levy.

During an earlier public forum, a group of residents urged commissioners to pass the school budget as presented; Grand Jury Foreman Larry Nash asked the body to consider raising Grand Jury pay. The meeting later convened in the General Sessions Courtroom in Ashland City, where twelve commissioners were present and a quorum was declared.

Commissioners considered amendments to the County General Fund (Fund 101). A proposal to add a $15,000 contribution for the Ashland City Senior Citizen Center, moved by Commissioner Gary Binkley and seconded by Betty Ramsey, failed by roll call, 3–9. A separate amendment to increase Grand Jury pay from $11 to $25 per day, moved by Binkley and seconded by Ramsey, also failed, 3–9. An effort to raise courthouse security pay from $80 to $100 per day resulted in a 6–6 tie and did not pass.

The commission voted 8–4 to hire two full‑time firefighters to live at the Pegram Fire Station, approving first‑year funding of $100,760.40 from the County General Fund balance; minutes note a future fire tax would fund the positions in subsequent years. Several motions by Commissioner Betty Ramsey to raise the proposed 1% employee increase to 5%, 4% and 3% all failed (each 3–9). A motion by Commissioner Tim Williamson, seconded by Walter Weakley, to approve a 1% raise passed by roll call, 11–1.

Commissioners approved the County General Fund as amended by roll call, 9–3. They also approved, by unanimous votes where noted, the Courthouse/Jail Fund, Solid Waste Fund, Drug Enforcement Fund, Unemployment Fund, Highway and Bridge Fund and several debt and capital funds (General Debt Service, Education Debt Service, Capital Projects, Other Capital Projects – Vehicle, and Other Capital Projects – Jail). A motion to approve the General Purpose School Fund failed, 4–8.

The body debated the tax levy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, including several amendment attempts to add cents for General Purpose Schools or jail construction; those amendments failed or were withdrawn, and a later motion to set the tax levy at 2.9074 was defeated by roll call, 4–8.

With no further business, commissioners adjourned at 10:06 p.m.

Actions recorded in the minutes include the hiring of firefighters, adoption of a 1% employee raise, approval of multiple funds (many unanimously), and repeated failed amendment attempts on raises and tax increases. Where roll‑call results are recorded, they are reflected in the minutes and in the actions list.